How To Give Tablets – Cats

How To Give Tablets – Cats

Cat owners will know how challenging it can be to administer medication to their kitten or cat.

There are several ways to give your cat medication: you can hide it in food, give it by hand (straight into the mouth) or administer it through the skin (certain medications only).

Always first check with your vet if the medication can be specially made into a palatable liquid or is available transdermally, as a paste rubbed into the skin and absorbed. These methods could just make medicating your cat a whole lot easier.

If your cat won’t take medication in food then you will need to give it straight into the mouth.

This will involve restraining your cat and may mean you’ll need a second person to help you.

Ensure you have everything you need at hand and remain calm before you get started.

Find your cat! Cats will often disappear when they know we want them for something.

Put your cat on the floor or table, making sure it is non-slip and stable.

Have your cat sit upright and facing away from you. Place a hand on either side of your cat over the front legs, gently holding them just above the elbows – it allows you to control your cat and stops them from running off. This is often where a second person comes in handy – have them hold your cat while you concentrate on giving your cat’s medication.

If your cat is very wriggly you may need to restrain them in a towel. Use a soft, medium-sized towel and place it flat in front of you; place the cat on the towel (still facing away from you) and bring one side of the towel up and around the cat’s neck. Then do the same with the other side ensuring your cat is wrapped well and can’t get its front legs out of the opening.

Next, place your hand on top of your cat’s head with your thumb and finger on either side, ensuring your thumb and forefinger extend down to the cat’s jaw near the corner of the mouth.

Tilt the cat’s head back and at the same time use the middle finger of the hand holding the tablet to push the jaw down and open the mouth.

Drop the tablet as far back on the tongue as you can, and then hold the jaw closed and wait for your cat to swallow.

Rubbing the throat under the chin may help to encourage swallowing, or you could syringe a small amount of water into his mouth to ensure the tablet goes down smoothly.

If your cat continues to spit out the tablet you may need to invest in a pill-popper.

This handy little gadget acts like a syringe. After placing the tablet into the soft end, use the plunger to administer the tablet.

A pill-popper delivers the tablet to the very back of your cat’s mouth – and saves you putting your fingers into it!

If all else fails, remember at Bedford-Dianella Vet Centre we offer free nurse clinics and are happy to demonstrate how to give tablets – or we can just medicate your pet for you!

Centre Hours:

For After Hours Emergencies, please phone: 1300 040 400

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